Crowds cheered as RNC Chairman Reince Priebus announced the intention of the Republican National Convention to nominate former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan as candidates for president and vice president of the United States in Tampa, Monday.

By Richard Dunham, Houston Chronicle

Posted Aug. 28, 2012, at 4:27 a.m.

There’s a heavy price to be paid if you’re a Ron Paul support in Mitt Romney’s city.

For one thing, you get a seat on the fringes of the convention arena.

How far from the podium are Paul-dominated delegations sitting?

Let’s put it this way. Delegates from U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, American Samoa and the Northern Marianas Islands get better seats than Ron Paul’s supporters.

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The Marianas entourage managed to wangle some really good seats — next to the Michigan delegation (Mitt Romney’s native state).

Nevada is considered one of nine swing states that will decide the presidential election.

Paul loyalists complain that they have been treated unfairly by Romney-controlled convention officials.

“I think it may be time we audit the RNC [Republican National Committee],” Paul supporter Justin Amash, a congressman from Michigan said Sunday, taking a cue from Paul’s “audit the Fed” legislative proposal.